No sooner is one behind bars than another pops up. I have realised for along while that there has been a culture of impunity in Showbiz, but I'll not forgive those in authority in places like the BBC for turning a blind eye to the likes of Savile, Harris, Brand and now Walliams. No, not just turning a blind eye, but actively covering up. That culture has to end now. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/david-walliams-injunction-high-court-latest-b3081589.html
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@GeofCox
The entertainment industry breaks younger folks in more ways than one. I saw abusers & their enablers get away with so much crap in my 10+ years in that industry. Higher ups protect the abusers - whether it's local or global environments. It's one main reason why I don't miss that industry. Anyone who tries to speak out/report abusers or confront enablers are ostracized/bullied - they try to silence people.
@GeofCox I would agree. Look, for instance, at Masterchef. The world is full of talented people looking for their "break". If there is one programme that really seems set up to help, it is the BBC Young Musician of the Year. So many well-known musicians have been helped, but people like Nicola Benedetti or Emma Johnson represent only the tip of a very large iceberg
its been a problem for 30+ years (when the media industry started ruthlessly downsizing, gatekeeping of creative work became even worse and the creeps made sure they held on to the good jobs and pushed everyone out)
a volunteer at the community radio station who previously worked for BBC told me that every time an abuser was outed and disciplined, his supporters in management retaliated by reducing funding and jobs for diverse/young talent - which seems like more than just a conspiracy theory as I matched it up with incidents and waves of layoffs and productions being cancelled..
@vfrmedia
The abusers & their industry enabling protectors almost always use blacklisting as a punishment against anyone who tries to speak out/fight back. It's a prime STFU or you'll never work in the industry again tactic.
That blacklisting tactic is used in many other work industries to scare off whistle-blowers.
@tompearce49
I think we should also look at the role of those in authority in creating these, and most other 'celebrities'.
Is there really such a shortage of 'talent' that we must have the same celebrity featured in multiple shows and fields ?
I'm sure it must really annoy genuinely talented but unknown authors, or cooks, or whatever, when celebrities are given book contracts or television series not because their work is as good, but because their 'name' will help sales or viewing figures.
I don't know of any research on this, but my guess is that the celebrity circuit is just like the business executive delusion that talent is so rare it must receive excessive rewards: really, I would suggest, there's no shortage of ability, but those doing the employing are so unimaginative, risk-averse and profit-oriented, they'd rather choose somebody they already know, than give younger talent a break.